Winter-time competition well-attended at Cois na hAbhna

THE annual Ceol an Gheimhridh competition organised by Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann was held in Cois na hAbhna recently.

This competition, confined to the U-13, U-15 and U-17 age groups, is designed to give young competitors the experience of participating in competitions, which would not be as advanced as in Fleadh Cheoil an Chláir.
It hopes to stimulate them to progress to County Fleadh standard, and beyond, having had an adjudicator listen to their performance and given them a written appraisal of it.
There was a large entry in this year’s competition, which has gone from strength to strength in recent years. The county board of Comhaltas is eager to promote the competition and have encouraged branches to nominate young musicians, singers and dancers to participate in it. County Comhaltas secretary Colm Nestor said he was pleased with the turnout this year.
“There has been a steady increase in numbers participating in this competition over the past three or four years and this means that the standard has also risen,” he said.
“We are very pleased with this growth in Ceol an Gheimhridh, as it is an ideal forum in which to give young people the experience of performing in public in a relaxed and informal competitive atmosphere. Many of these young musicians, singers and dancers will go on to compete at county, provincial and even All-Ireland Fleadh level, so it is an important way of promoting traditional music, song and dance from an early age,” he concluded.

Results
String U-13
1. Paul Farran CCÉ Clochliath; 2. Sophie Barbotin CCÉ Tradaree; 3. Seán Clancy CCÉ Corofin.
Reed U-13
1. Caoimhe Morrissey CCÉ Clochliath; 2. Enda Greene CCÉ Inis Cathaigh; 3. Laura Dunphy CCÉ Inis Cathaigh.
Wind U-13
1. Keeva McHugh CCÉ Cr na Coradh; 2. Áine Kelly CCÉ Croisín
3. Aoife Keane CCÉ Corofin.
Duet U-13
1. Aoife Keane, Camin Clancy CCÉ Corofin; 2. Seán Clancy & Cian McInerney CCÉ Corofin; 3. Sarah Hayes & Donal Watson CCÉ East Clare.
Quartet U-13
1. L Chaplin, C Ní Gilla Chainnaigh, L Donoghue, L Hayes CCÉ East Clare; 2. D. Watson, S. Hayes, K. Donoghue, S. Young CCÉ East Clare; 3. James and Mairéad Casey, Frank and Nicole Roche CCÉ Clochliath.
String U-17
1. Amy MacNamara CCÉ Tulla; 2. Julienne McMahon CCÉ Croisín; 3. Josh O’Loughlin CCÉ Clochliath.
Reed U-17
1. Máirtín Ó’Coighligh CCÉ Doora/Barefield.
Wind U-17
1. Alisha McMahon CCÉ East Clare; 2. Máirtín Ó Coighligh CCÉ Doora/Barefield; 3. Jason Grace CCÉ Tradaree.
Duet U-17
1. Francis Cunningham and Seán O’Mhaoir CCÉ Croisín.
Mixed set U-13
1. St James’ CCÉ Lissycasey/Ballynacally; 2. Rincóirí na croise CCÉ Inis Cathaigh.
Girls’ set U-13
1. St Bernadette’s CCÉ Lissycasey/Ballynacally; 2. St Ruth’s CCÉ Lissycasey/Ballynacally.
8 Hand U-13
1. East Clare CCÉ.
4 Hand U-13
1. S Young, L Chaplin, S Hayes, Katie Donoghue CCÉ East Clare; 2. L Hayes, C Ní GillaChainnaigh, W Czekaiska, L Donoghue CCÉ East Clare.
Mixed Set U-17
1. St Martin’s CCÉ Lissycasey/Ballynacally; 2. St Patrick’s CCÉ Lissycasey/Ballynacally.
Ladies’ set U-17
1. St Margaret’s CCÉ Lissycasey/Ballynacally.
Amhránaíocht Fé13
1. Siobhán Cunningham CCÉ Croisín; 2. Laura Donoghue CCÉ East Clare.
English singing U-13
1. Ava O’Malley, CCÉ Lissycasey; 2. Siobhán Cunningham, CCÉ Croisín; 3. Katie Donoghue CCÉ East Clare.
English singing U-17
1. Orla McSweeney CCÉ Lissycasey.
Recitation U-13
1. Laura Chaplin CCÉ East Clare; 2. Laura Donoghue CCÉ East Clare.
Scéalaíocht Fé13
1. Laura Donoghue CCÉ East Clare.